Along a line, known as
Highway 61, in deep southern Alberta, eerie cries from crisp prairie winds
can be heard, mournful reminders of early 20th century attempts of rural
prosperity. Long-forgotten towns include Skiff, Legend, Bingham, Nemiskam,
Altorado and Pakowki. But a few still hold on - Wrentham, Etzikom and Orion.
The latter was born in 1916, and two years later, following steady, copious
rain and a plentiful crop yield, the population grew to 150, with a main
street boasting three general stores, a hotel, bank, blacksmith, and cafe.
But then came a decade of drought, dust storms and grasshoppers. Orion struggled
on, even until today as the tiny hamlet still has seven residents. But there
are streets of empty homes and buildings. In recent years, Orion's grain
elevators have been levelled, adding one more nail to the community's coffin.
Submitted by:Johnnie Bachusky is a freelance writer in Canmore, Alberta,
which is a booming Rocky Mountain tourist community of 10,000 citizens,
five kilometres west of Banff National Park. Founded in 1883, Canmore for
decades was also a coal-mining community until the mines closed for good
in 1979.